Lowa, men's combat boots GTX, safety boots, 13 Jahre, black

I've been wearing my Lowas for about four years, heavily during the first couple of years, less frequently for the last two. They've seen snow, ankle-deep mud, river crossings, and probably the best part of 2,000 miles. In all that time they've never disappointed, and looking at them today they're in as good a shape as when they left the shop (with the exception of wear to the soles, of course). I've treated them reasonably in terms of keeping them clean and proofed, but certainly haven't babied them.I think what I most like about them, apart from the fit, is the quality of the leather. It's completely intact despite the punishment it's seen. Compare and contrast with a pair of £170 boots I've recently been using from another big-name manufacturer supposedly known for quality, which are coming apart - literally - after two years of the kind of treatment the Lowas have seen. Would I change anything about the Lowas? Not at all. I suspect that when I inevitably have to replace them, I'll opt for the shorter Lowa "mountain" boot or "Super Camp", as they're a bit lighter and I suspect that for me the combats are a bit of overkill. But that's just personal preference.